Nailed it: ESPN has Idaho as worst team in the country

And the second year of the Robb Akey era is officially underway.

Bottom 10 [ESPN.com]

Robb Akey on the mic at WAC media convention

Enjoy. Or don't.

• Robb Akey press conference 

Coaches, commissioner speak...[WACSports.com]

Wednesday: Links with determination

Story of the day:

For Oregon fans, BSU a better draw than some Pac-10 teams [Arbiter Online]

No wonder tickets for the Boise State-Oregon game are in such demand. Duck fans would rather see the Broncos than several conference opponents. Sorry, Stanford.

"Frankly, the Boise State game has garnered the type of interest amongst our ticket holders and donors that is as great as some of our conference games and greater than some conference games," Mike Marlow, senior associate athletic director at the University of Oregon said. "It's been a ticket that has been in demand from our season ticket holders and donors as well."

We're curious to find out what demand is for the Utah State game (or if "demand" is even the right word).

Also in the Arbiter's story was news that the Boise State ticket lottery would be happening soon. However, they neglected to describe what kind of lottery it would be. Scratch tickets? Ping pong balls? Names out of a hat? Human tetris contest? College journalists have a lot to learn about asking the right questions.

Other links:

Brock Forsey to speak at local youth camp [Statesman]
OBNUG to crash local youth camp.

Nevada's terrifying schedule poster [Wizard of Odds]
The wolf eye follows you everywhere.

Ada County Vandal picnic on Saturday [Statesman]
Bring your lowered expectations. And a Jell-O salad.

Minor glitch in Boise State's NCAA 09 schedule [GameZone]
No more Idaho State at least.

Flash animation of BSU's new turf [Statesman]
That's one way to spend your resources.

A $29.4 million ticket out of the WAC

The Boise State athletic department budget has ballooned to over 29 million dollars. No wonder they had to charge admission to the spring game.

The school will present a budget with $29.4 million in projected revenue to the State Board of Education at its meeting in Idaho Falls on Thursday and Friday.

According to the Statesman story, the athletic department budget has grown by more than 20 million dollars the past 10 years. Where is the money going? Perhaps we should ask Gene Bleymaier's tailored suit.

The most disturbing part of the whole story is not the excess of the Boise State athletic budget (in fact, we could not be happier that the school is willing to spend whatever it takes to remain competitve to the point of dominant). The most disturbing part is where the bottom of the WAC stands.

The University of Idaho is presenting its budget to the state board at the same time as the Broncos do. Let's hope the Vandals get to go first. Their 16 million dollar proposal is peanuts compared to BSU's.

And therein lies the problem with the WAC--there is a distinct, tangible line between the haves and the have nots. The schism is not simply on the field of play; it goes back to a fundamental difference in the approach of athletic departments. The big players (BSU, Fresno State) are willing to put themselves out there and risk a deficit because they understand that the reward of success in college sports can be incredibly lucrative. The Fiesta Bowl is Exhibit A for this strategy. Meanwhile, the also-rans in the conference are simply doing enough to get by and maybe, possibly, not be in the red come season's end.

At any rate, seeing Boise State's largesse is simply another encouraging sign that maybe one day the Broncos can rid themselves of the WAC and move on to a conference like the Pac-10 where their commitment to winning will not be so drastically anomalous. One can hope.

Boise State's budget climb [Idaho Statesman]

The face of Boise State's football program

ESPN began a poll in April to decide the face of every college football program in the country. We thought it might be fun to check in to see how things are going.

Boise State has received 66 suggestions so far, and the blue turf and the Fiesta Bowl seem to be the favorites. Of course, there are plenty of other choices, too.

sroake1
dan hawkins

This one must have been posted in 2004.

drays2004r
The face of the program is clearly Zabransky. He typifies what the Broncos are all about...A team that gets disrespected but constantly finds a way to get the job done in convincing fashion. He's just a winner.

Zabransky is a winner, except in most big games, in the state of Georgia, and in the Humanitarian Bowl.

2244curt
Gimmick plays and a schedule filled with cupcakes every year.

Might the last part of this be a nomination for Gene Bleymaier?

The Vandals are having a much more difficult time coming up with a face of the program, as referenced by the tens of people weighing in at ESPN.com. So far the choices appear to be Dennis Erickson, Mark Schlereth, and the great John Friesz. We just found reason #437 not to be a Vandal fan.

Face of the Program: Boise State [ESPN.com]

Thursday: Links with nepotism

Story of the day:

Hawkins promises championship, metaphors at CU [Rocky Mtn News]

Former BSU coach (and current OBNUG Public Enemy #1) Dan Hawkins was back to his old Zen-like ways during a speech in Denver on Wednesday, but amidst a shower of metaphors, similes, idioms, and analogies, he dropped this burden on the CU football program:

"Our goal is to win a national championship at Colorado," Hawkins said, veering into his booster speech. "They laugh at that now, but you won't be laughing because we'll do it, at some point. I promise you that."

We'll believe it when we see it.

The best part of Hawkins speech, however, was not the blathering prediction. Great expectations were only a lead-in to a bevy of classic Hawkinisms. Enjoy.

"Sometimes you've got to be a potter. You've got your hands on the clay, softly, gently molding. And then other times you've got to be a blacksmith and put 'em in the fire and heat 'em up and pound on 'em."

...and...

"It takes all the people in this room, that we all support each other in this thing. As Nelson Mandela says, it's about ubuntu, that we're all in this together."

...and...

'The gutter always recruits. The gutter always needs reinforcements.'

...and...

"We have a saying: There's two types of class, there's first and there's no

...and one more...

"I always tell our guys that excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon way, and I didn't make that up."

He ended the speech with, "Go play intramurals, brother."

Other links:

Akey responds to NCAA sanctions [Idaho Statesman]
His response: "We have to worry about academics, too?! We haven't even figured out this football thing yet!"

Will Boise State crash the BCS again? [Red Zone Report]
More importantly, are you really crashing the BCS if you're invited?

One man's BSU bowl prediction [NCAAbbs]
The Humanitarian Bowl? Versus Maryland? Great, now we're depressed.

Wednesday: Links with progress

Story of the day

One more thing to dominate in the WAC [Idaho Press-Tribune]

The NCAA released its annual report on academic progress, and the Broncos managed to take home the WAC championship in that, too.

Boise State’s Academic Performance Report grades, issued by the NCAA, was tops in the WAC and means the Broncos are not in danger of losing scholarships because of academic shortcomings.

Boise State scored a 953, well above the baseline of 925. The next best WAC school was Fresno State. Can you say foreshadowing?!

As you'll read below, not every WAC school fared so well. The similarities to the regular season are quite striking.

Other links:

Idaho faces NCAA sanctions [Fight, Fight, BSU]
Vandals cut eight scholarships, mediocre high school Palouse athletes weep.

San Jose State may be ineligible for postseason [ESPN.com]
If the Spartans don't improve their academic score, they might not be allowed in the 2009 postseason. If they don't improve their offensive production, it won't really matter.

Yahoo's Boise State spring report [Yahoo Sports]
Their conclusion: the Broncos need to find a starting quarterback.

Preseason top 25 with no Fresno State [SI.com]
Thankfully, Stewart Mandel is not on the bandwagon. Also, Boise State gets a brief mention.

Boise State changes USU game time [Idaho Press-Tribune]
The Mountain West didn't do so well in the draft, either [Scott Slant]
WAC chooses to rewards its BCS teams less [Idaho Press-Tribune]

Monday: links with professionalism

Hey all, welcome to the first day of the rest of your three months. We're going to be linking to the best Bronco stories on the 'Net every morning and then bringing you something original in the afternoon. Or at least that's the plan.

Boise State links

Vandals confuse attendance with extortion [Idaho Statesman]
Idaho is forcing fans who want single-game tickets to buy tickets to an additional game.

Fight, Fight's talking boycott [Fight, Fight, BSU]
Boycott?! We're in.

Good to know that someone has his priorities in order [Statue Left]
Have a good summer, Statue Left.

Orlando Scandrick turning heads in Cowboys camp [DC Fanatics]

WAC links

LaTech coach Dooley shares his vision for the Bulldogs [Shreveport Times]
Diagnosis: farsightedness.

Hawaii not in rebuilding mode? [ESPN.com]
Would "starting over from scratch" mode be more apt?

Miscellaneous links

Murph's Turf responds to blogs [Idaho Statesman]
Must....bite....tongue.

Bronco radio search narrows [Idaho Press-Tribune]
Probably because they just received our application

An irrelevant Vandal? That seems about right

The University of Idaho can't even win when their players get drafted.

The St. Louis Rams made Vandal LB David Vobora the last pick of the NFL Draft, awarding him the title of Mr. Irrelevant. You know what they say, "Once irrelevant, always irrelevant."

Idaho's Vobora is 'Mr. Irrelevant' [Idaho Statesman]

WAC roundup: Vandals, Aggies find new backs

Here is a long overdue look at the world of WAC competition. Did we say competition? We meant speed bumps.

Idaho

Vandal RB Princeton (if that's his real name) McCarty had himself quite a game in Idaho's spring finale, rushing for 124 yards and four touchdowns. But diving into the end zone? Act like you've been there before, McCarty, even though--as a Vandal tailback--you might never get there again.

“He had some great big plays,” Idaho head coach Robb Akey said. “He learned a little lesson about discipline. We’re not going to be diving into end zones like that unless we have to. He made some big plays and dadgumit that’s what I’ve been asking them to do."

Akey went on to add: "Darn tootin'."

Sportslink: spring roundup [Spokesman-Review]

Utah State

Linebacker-turned-running back? Yeah, that'll work.
Utah State's latest offensive strategy involves converting linebackers to running backs. Isn't it supposed to work the other way?

Cumbee carried nine times for 69 yards and a touchdown during the spring-ending scrimmage at Romney Stadium.

Said Cumbee: "I just saw the hole and ran. That's what the coaches told me to do. ... They said to run the ball like a linebacker."

Run the ball like a linebacker? We seem to remember linebackers not running the ball all that well. Hence, why they are linebackers.

USU: RB shows his stuff in scrimmage [Salt Lake Tribune]


Fresno State

While Boise State fans anxiously await several Broncos going in the NFL Draft, Fresno fans have decidedly less to get excited about. DL Jason Shirley might be the only Bulldog to be drafted, and that is not even a certainty.

The former Fresno State football player knows he severely hurt those chances in October when he was charged with three misdemeanors, including driving under the influence.

"I know NFL teams frown upon those types of incidents," Shirley said.

Nonsense. The Cowboys and Bengals would love to have him.

Self-inflicted slips put Shirley's draft stock in question [Fresno Bee]


San Jose State

San Jose State has been busy crafting its non-conference schedule for the next seven years. Talk about proactive.

For SJSU fans, the biggest name will undoubtedly be USC (in 2009), but the biggest story should be Navy.

That’s partly because of the allure of playing a service academy, partly because SJSU and Navy will play four times: twice at Spartan Stadium, twice in Annapolis.

And partly because those four games are winnable.

SJSU football... [San Jose Mercury-News]

Akey loves his Vandal family

After the Idaho's Silver and Gold game last weekend, head coach Robb Akey couldn't have been happier with his players, er, relatives.

“I like the way this family is together at this point in time and that is going to be huge,” Akey said.

...and...

“We’ve got a family here and that is a great thing. We are able to get better at things over the course of the spring instead of trying to figure each other out like we were last spring.”

Akey is the Patrick Duffy to the Idaho Vandals' Step by Step family.

Silver wins spring finale [Govandals.com]

Celebrate moderate success with the Vandals

Prior to the University of Idaho's Silver and Gold game tonight, there will be a ceremony to honor one of the rarest of Vandal feats: winning.

Before the game, the Vandals' 1998 Humanitarian Bowl Championship team is having a 10-year reunion that is open to the public.

Sigh. The only thing worse than paying so much pomp and circumstance to such a non-historic victory is paying money to attend the party for the non-historic victory. Vandal fans must be desperate.

The reunion begins at 5 p.m. on the North Concourse of the Kibbie Dome. Tickets, which are available through the University of Idaho ticket office, are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Next year, the Vandals plan on celebrating the two-year anniversary of defeating Cal Poly.

Former Timberline standout... [Idaho Statesman]

Vandal defense improved? Hardly

Over the weekend, the Vandals held their second scrimmage of the spring, and at first glance, the defense looks to have taken a big step forward. On second glance? Not so much.

"Defense steps up in second scrimmage" blared the headline at the Vandals' athletic website. "Oh no, they didn't" claimed the facts.

Scoring
Deonte Jackson 2 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Max Komar 3 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Deonte Jackson 8 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Princeton McCarty 3 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Tino Amancio 22 FG
Princeton McCarty 4 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Tariq Ikharo 5 pass from Nathan Enderle (Tino Amancio kick)
Quin Ashley 9 run (Tino Amancio kick)
Tino Amancio 21 FG
Tino Amancio 44 FG
Tino Amancio 49 FG
Deonte Jackson 5 run (Tino Amancio kick)

Idaho took comfort in the fact that all the scoring came in short yardage situations, which apparently makes giving up 68 points easier to stomach.

Defense steps up in second scrimmage [Govandals.com]

Public Enemy #1: Mike Prater's case

OBNUG is in the process of deciding who should be this website's most hated villain. We'll be presenting the cases for all of the candidates over the next few weeks. Enjoy.

Mike Prater

When it comes to the sports editor of Idaho's largest newspaper, some might expect an objective, temperate journalist. Not us. We want the biggest homer around.

Mike Prater, the Statesman's sports editor since 2001, is not that homer. Sure, he does a fine job running the sports section, but he does so with a decidedly non-partisan flair. Where are the op-ed columns from Buster Bronco? Where is the photo collage of Brock Jaramillo? Where is the blue? Where is the orange?

We want someone running the sports section who loves Boise State football as much as we do. Instead, we have a Vandal apologist. And that reason alone is enough for this website to despise him.

We could forgive him for the complete lack of Bronco flair on the sports page. We can even forgive his part in the yukfest that is Caves & Prater. But we simply cannot overlook his unforgivable sin of not hating the Idaho Vandals.

And really, he leaves us no choice. He knows full well that defending the Vandals is a crime against Bronco Nation, and his doing so in the city of Boise only magnifies his betrayal. How far off is the day when Robb Akey and Nathan Enderle take the Broncos off the front page? Not as far as one might think.

Prater's Vandal vivality has dug himself a pretty big hole. He might never be able to repair the damage he has done to his reputation with Bronco fans, but there's no harm in trying.

Want to get off of our bad side, Prater? Vote Boise State #1 in your pre-season AP poll. Want to spend the next year as our Public Enemy #1? Keep right on doing what you're doing.

Public Enemy #1: Robb Akey's case

OBNUG is in the process of deciding who should be this website's most hated villain. We'll be presenting the cases for all of the candidates over the next few weeks. Enjoy.

Robb Akey

Idaho head coach Robb Akey has his hands full turning around a moribund program that might be better off in I-AA. Nevertheless, Akey perseveres with his blind faith, his optimistic spirit, and most importantly, his mustache.

There are plenty of things to dislike about the man: his attitude, his smugness, the fact that his first name has more "b"'s than the Vandals have wins. But when it comes right down to it, Akey is reviled by OBNUG because of that larger-than-life caterpillar taking residence under his nose.

Like a rotund Samwise Gamgee accompanying Akey on his epic quest, the mustache is a willing partner to the coaching travails of Idaho's head man. Through wins and losses (but mostly losses), it rests on his cheeky grin, experiencing the highs and lows like a hairy best friend. And it drives us mad.

It bothers us. It taunts us. And it drives our curiosity. Just what is the deal with that nose beard? We would like some answers.

• What is hiding in that mustache?
  Akey's face rug could very well be used as a safe-deposit box of goodies, like a backpack for the nose. We imagine that Akey keeps the following things hidden in the follicle forest: gameplans, leftover bits of egg salad sandwiches, Nathan Enderle, and a wall calendar of the Palouse.
  
• Does the mustache have special powers?
  To keep such an obvious hygiene malfeasance around, Akey must be aware of some hidden powers to his mustache. Yet these powers obviously have no practical use in the real world, otherwise the Vandals would be a much better team and Akey would have a much better job. We think the mustache's special power is crosswords.
  
• What would happen if the mustache was gone?
  We think that Akey's lip hat is actually holding his face together.
  
• Does the mustache have a free will?
  This question delves into an area that we are not quite prepared to know about. We would prefer to stay with surface issues, like what is the mustache’s name and when is too much Just for Men too much.

Our obligation to detest Akey can be traced back to our obligation to detest all things Vandals.

Our obligation to nominate Akey for OBNUG Public Enemy #1 status? Purely the mustache.

Idaho's offense well ahead of its defense

The Vandals had their first scrimmage of the spring last weekend, and in a surprising turn of events, the offense showed up!

The Idaho offense had its way during Saturday's football scrimmage, racking up eight touchdowns and one field goal.

The news was encouraging for Idaho, until they realized that they could very easily give up 60 points to Utah State this season.

Idaho colleges... [Idaho Statesman]

Vandals make news for being oily

Great find by Drew at Fight, Fight, BSU. The Idaho Vandals thought it might be a good idea to take their shirts off, rub each other with grease, and take a picture. Eww.


With Leather picked up the story, as well as Every Day Should Be Saturday. Good luck living that down, Vandals. Click here for the link to Drew's original post.

Vandals kick off spring ball

Hope springs eternal in Moscow as the Idaho Vandals take the field for the start of spring practice today. BSU's biggest rivals have several things to be encouraged by:

1. No team ever went 1-11 in the spring.
2. They get to play themselves in the annual Black & Gold game.
3. Media attention will be negligible.
4. No one got fired over the winter (though not from lack of trying).

The continuity of a holdover staff is expected to pay dividends for a team in desperate need of an identity.

Akey said the Vandals will run the same offensive, defensive and special teams schemes that were used last season. Idaho finished the year 1-11, including 0-8 in the WAC.

If it's broke, don't fix it.

No, wait. That's not how the saying goes, is it?

Idaho opens spring football today [Idaho Statesman]

Photo courtesy KBCI 2 News.

Idaho puts spin on incoming class

Idaho coach Rob Akey feels his new recruiting class if full of "winners." No word on if the Vandals got any "athletes," "football players," or kids that other teams "wanted."

"I'm like every football coach in the country," said Akey, whose team finished 1-11 last fall. "I'm happy today. We think a lot of these guys or we would not have offered them scholarships.

"I think the fact that every guy on this list comes from a winning program says a lot... In regards to helping teach how to win and change expectations of winning, recruiting winners helps add that."

The Vandals ranked behind Fresno and BSU in the WAC recruiting standings, so they must have done something right. Their class, which includes two good running backs among others, should help them get out of the WAC cellar and maybe even come within 20 points of the Broncos in the next few years. That's what "winners" do.

Idaho recruits a class of 'winners' [Idaho Statesman]